Going for a hike is a great way to see wildlife in their native environment. We’ve outlined some of the best hikes in South Australia to see different wildlife.
14 hikes to see some of South Australia’s wildlife
1.
Bandicoots
Southern Brown Bandicoots are shy and fast moving, but you might catch a glance of one as it scurries under foliage. If you’re first thought was: “did I just see a rat… wait, a big one, and brown, and with a pointed snout, and rounded”, then you just saw a bandicoot.
There are several hikes where you might catch a glimpse of a bandicoot if you keep a watchful eye:
- Aldgate Valley Nature Walk (13.6km, 3.5 hour return)
- Bandicoot Trail, Mark Oliphant Conservation Park (3.1km, 2 hours)
- Chambers Gully (9.6km, 3 hours)
2.
Koala in Montacute Conservation Park
Koalas
Koalas are throughout the Adelaide Hills. They can often be found in large numbers in quiet cool gullies.
A few good hikes to see koalas on include:
- Waterfall Hike, Belair National Park (6.5km, 3 hours)
- Sugarloaf Circuit (5.8km, 2-3 hours)
- Horsnell Gully and Giles Conservation Park Hike (8.7km, 4-5 hours)
- Montacute Conservation Park Hike (6.3km, 2-3 hours)
Jan 2020: Montacute Conservation Park Hike is currently closed due to the December 2019 Cudlee Creek Bushfire.
- Wine Shanty Hike, Cleland National Park (10km, 4 hours)
- Chambers Hike (9.6km, 3 hours)
3.
Kangaroo and joey on the Chambers Hike and Wine Shanty Hike
Kangaroos
Kangaroos are quite easy to find in the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula. A few good hikes to see roos on include:
- Wine Shanty Hike, Cleland National Park (10km, 4 hours), especially near the Long Ridge Track
- Chambers Hike (9.6km, 3 hours), especially near the Long Ridge Track
- Aaron Creek Circuit Hike (6km, 3 hours), especially near the Long Ridge Track
- Wirra Water Loop, Mambray Creek (1.6km, 30 minutes)
4.
An echidna on the Sacred Canyon Walk in the Flinders Ranges
Echidnas
Echidnas are notoriously shy, but if you keep a listen out you can see them. They’ll often crawl up into a ball, but if you’re quiet and don’t approach they’ll often then relax and continue wandering around looking for food.
- Aaron Creek Circuit Hike (6km, 3 hours)
- Black Hill Summit Hike (4.2km, 2 hours), especially on the fire tracks near the top
5.
Emu in Mambray Creek, on the Wirra Water Loop Hike
Emus
There are abundant emus in the Mambray Creek campground and on the Wirra Water Loop hike (1.6km, 30 minutes).
6.
Platypus
Photo of platypus at Flinders Chase courtesy of TripAdvisor
Platypus are rare in South Australia, but with some patience you might be in with a chance of seeing some on the Platypus Waterholes Walk (4.7km, 2 hours), in Kangaroo Island’s Flinders Chase National Park.
Jan 2020: Flinders Chase National Park is currently closed due to the December 2019 Kangaroo Island/Ravine Bushfire.
There is plenty of other birdlife, kangaroos, wallabies, geese, echidnas and goannas to be seen on this walk.
7.
Dolphins playing in the waves above Boat Harbor, Deep Creek National Park
Dolphins
View of Boat Harbor
In Deep Creek National Park the Boat Harbor Hike (7.8km, 4 hours return) goes down to the coast with a viewing spot. You might get lucky and see dolphins playing in the surf. The trail is well-graded with breathtaking views of Kangaroo Island, The Pages Islands and Tunkalilla Beach.
8.
White-bellied Sea-Eagle
The White-bellied Sea-Eagle are endangered in SA and few remain on the mainland. You can catch a glance of them flying overhead on the hike along the Heysen Trail from Waitpinga Cliffs to Kings Beach (11.5km, 4-6 hours one way). One of a just a few breeding pairs of sea-eagles on the mainland inhabit the cliffs here.